Curtain edge construction



June 23, 1953 H. SHERMAN CURTAIN EDGE CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct. 2l, 1948 N r nm. mmfm W/. W M M H Patented June 2.3, 1953 `CURTAIN EDGE CONSTRUCTION Harry Sherman, New York, N. Y., assigner to Ardsley Curtain Co. Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application October 21, 1948, Serial No. 55,811

This invention relates generally to curtains and more particularly to a novel and useful curtain construction of the edge portions of the curtain panel. Y The desirability of having extra weight in a curtain at the margins thereof for the purpose of obtaining ya more nearly uniform hanging has been recognized heretofore in the curtain art, but prior constructions have been open to objection because of certain structure or use characteristics which are remedied by the present invention. y

Among the objects of the present invention lies the provision of curtain. panel edge structure wherein additional weight or body is obtained at the margins of the curtain panel without the addition of extra weight providing elements. In the present construction, the additional weight or body at the margins ofthe curtain panel is obtained byfolds or laminatons of the material of which the curtain panel is composed. While it has been known to obtain additional weight or body by this general procedure such prior art constructions have been of an unbalanced nature so that when the individual threads of which the curtain panel material was composed were subjected to varying degrees of humidity, the threads in changing their length or twist caused a consequent twisting or rolling of the curtain edge. This eiect was most noticeable in curtain panels composed of relatively nely woven fabric, the very fabric which required the greatest amount -of edge weighting. In accordance with the present invention a balanced eifect is obtained at -the curtain panel edge by a symmetrical fold- .ing of the curtain panel material.

An advantage of the present construction lies in the fact that since weight is obtained at the -edges of the curtain panel by a laminating of the same material of which the curtain panel is composed when the curtain is laundered or .cleaned all of the material both in the body of the curtain panel and at the edge has the same 'shrinkage rate so that distortion of the curtain -panel due to different materials being incorpo- Vrated therein is avoided.

Another object of the present invention lies in the provision of curtain construction having `the herein mentioned desirable qualitiesand. yet `which is of such a simplenature that the same may be rapidly fabricated in large scale at klow cost. The present structure and method .gives "-rise to economies in the .execution thereof as 'will more -fullyappear hereinafter..

1 Claim. (Cl. 2-278) Another object herein lies in the provision of laminated edge curtain panel structure which provides not only a symmetrical balance of weight so as to produce a correspondingly balanced hanging but also provides a balanced appearance so that the nish of the curtain edge is'substantially identical when viewed either from the front side of the curtain panel or. the rear side thereat.

Another object herein lies in the provision Vof curtain edge construction wherein although the edge is given additional weight and reinforcement by a plurality of folds, none of the folds opens outwardly toward the free edge of the curtain. This presents nished edge appearance and prevents lint ancl'dustA from entering during washing or dry-cleaning process or while hung.

These objects and other incidental ends and advantages will more fully. appear in the progress of this disclosure and be pointed out in the appended claim. Y

In the drawings similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a reduced front elevational view of a curtain panel embodying one form ofthe invention.

Figure 2 is a rear elevational view of Fig.- ure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevational View of a portion of the curtain panel `and edge as taken from the left margin of the curtain in Figure 1.

. Figure 4 is an end elevational view as seen from the left of Figure 3.

Figure '.5 is a rear elevational view of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view as seen from the plane 6--6 on Figure 3.

For the purpose of clarity in the disclosure and the drawings the thickness of the parts has been exaggerated particularly in the sectional view, Figure 6.

Turning now to the first embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 6, inclusive, the curtain generally indicated by numeral I0 may be of any desired size and. includes broadly the curtain panelv Il, 'a top edge. I2, a bottom edge I3 and side edges I4 and I5. vAs the curtain is normally hung, the side edges III and I5 are vertically disposed, usually longitudinally of the curtain. While yonly a single lcurtain I0 .is shown, it will be obvious to those skilledin the art to which the present invention relates that a plurality of corresponding .curtains -may be hunglin pairs or in any otherdesired arrange.-

ment. The curtain Il! may be provided in a well known manner with a rod carrying passage I6 disposed adjacent the top edge I2. In normal use, all of the materials or parts lying below the rod carrying passage I6 are supported by the portions of the curtain at the rod carrying portion.

As will more fully appear in the progress of this disclosure, the present invention relates particularly to the edge portions of the curtain panel and the advantageous effects thereof may be utilized to advantage in the top edge l2. The top edge I2, if so treated, will also present a more desirable appearance, although the need for the avoidance of puckering or twisting along the top edge of the curtain panel is not so necessary because of the fact that a ruIiie appearance at this area is usually found and because the curtain panel is supported in position against undesired twisting by the rod itself (not shown).

Since the edge formation of the curtain panel is substantially identical in a repetitive series therealong, a detailed description of a portion thereof will suiice for all. The curtain panel iI may be composed of any suitable planar base material 9 well known in the art. As best seen in Figures 3, and 6, the panel II at the edge Iii isfolded inwardly upon itself to form a first fold I8, the bight or bend of which is closed along vthe outer free edge of the curtain. The material 9 is then continued inwardly of the curtain panelto form a front inner portion i9 and a front middle pprtion 26. Following this the material 9, is Yfolded outwardly of the curtain to form a second fold 22 the bight or bend of which is closed in a direction opposite the neighboring outer free edge of the curtain. The base material 9 is then continued outwardly of the curtain panel to'form tlregfront outer portion 24 which faces vthe front of the curtain panel. Next the base 9 is rearwardly folded to form a third fold 26, the bight or bend of which is closed along the outer free edge of the curtain panel. Next the base material 9 is folded through 180C to provide the rear outer portion 28, the fourth fold SI1-and the rear middle portion 32. Next another 180 fifth fold 34 is made and the base material 9Y thereafter inwardly of the fold 26 forms the rear inner portion 36. The portion 36 extends inwardly to form a portion 38 and this is inwardly folded upon itself to produce first and second bights 40 and 42. The portions I9, 20, 26, 29, 32 and 36 are maintained in the positions shown in Figure 6 by a rst row of securing means 45. The bights 40 and 42 and the engaged portions are held in position by a second row of securing means 46.

Thus the folds or bights 22 and 30 face inwardly of the curtain while the folds or bights I8, 26 and 34 face outwardly of the curtain. This is all clearly shown in Figure 6.

The securing means 45 and 6 are preferably machine stitches.

It may thus be seen that by-virtue of the structure just described, the edge'I/:l of the panel Ii is strengthened and reinforced by the positioning at said edge of six separate laminations of the base fabric 9 and that such reinforcement is located right at the edge most likely to receive undue wear and stress. Not only do the laminations of the fabric strengthen the edge but they also add weight right at the edge of the curtain panel which causes the finished curtain to take on a better hung appearance. This is so because when the edge is of. relatively light nature,

that is to say, insufficiently weighted, there is a tendency for the 'fabric thereat to twist and wrinkle and otherwise become deleteriously affected by the weight of the curtain as it extends below any given point on the edgeV of the curtain panel and by changes in humidity and twist or set of the fabrics and the thread making up the base fabric 9. Since the laminations formed by the portions I9, 26, 24, 28, 32, and 36 are composed of the identical material of which the balance of the curtain panel II is composed, expansion or contraction of individual threads due to changes in humidity or during washing or laundering, will not disadvantageously aifect the position and general texture of the parts. This may be contrasted with curtain edge reinforcing constructions in which a new material or ller differing from the material of the curtain panel is introduced to add weight along the curtain edge.

By virtue of the fold 26 embracing and covering the folds I6 and 34, a smooth and continuous outer free edge I4 is provided for the finished curtain panel I0.

The anchorage of all of the folds and closed portions by the securing means l5 prevents the shifting of these parts with relation to each other so that no special manipulation is needed-to place them for ironing operations after cleaning or laundering.

As may be seen from a perusal of Figure 6, the laminations formed by the portions I9, 20 and 24 are balanced by the corresponding portions at the rear of the curtain panel, namely the portions 36, 32 and 28. This balanced arrangement of the parts also assists in preventing unkempt twisting or curling of the edge lf3 of the curtain, an undesirable effect frequently encountered where edge weighting is attempted by rolling the edge thereof, particularly in the more delicate fabrics which are otherwise most desirable for decorative window treatment.

It may be noted that while I have provided si; separate laminations of fabric at the curtain e ge thereat from both the front and rear ofA the curtain panel. This is advantageous since when the curtains are hung, very frequently, portions of the rear surface of the curtain (the rear surface being that surface which is nearest the window or other building opening with which the curtain is associated), are exposed to the View of persons facing the curtain from the front. This condition occurs when the curtains are blown by the wind or when they are deliberately rotated at the vertical edges thereof in certain draping arrangements or where tiebacksare used.

It may thus be seen that I have disclosed a novel and useful curtain construction which produces increased edge weighting over prior art constructions and yet which is simple and durable and which may be produced at substantially no increase in cost, and in some case less than, that made by earlier constructions.

I wish it to be understood that I do not desireY to be limited to the exact details of construction shown and described, for obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

A curtain construction comprising a fabric curtain base panel havinga free integral fabric edge, saidfree edge of the panel being folded upon itself and thereby providing a front middle portion and a second front portion, said free edge being further folded back' upon itself and lthereby I4 an identical appearance is presented 5 providing a third front portion, said free edge being still further folded outwardly and around the one and second front portions and thereby providing an integral binding portion running normal to said other portions, said free edge 5 being still further folded in the direction of the other portions thereby providing a fourth and rear portion and overlying said other portions, said free edge being still further folded under the fourth portion and thereby providing a rear and fth portion, said free edge still further being folded along the one front middle portion thereby providing a rear middle and sixth portion, said integral binding portion taken with the third and fourth portions encompassing the other portions, stitch means extending directly through the six portions whereby a closed and bound six-ply curtain edge is provided, said rear middle and sixth portion yextending laterally 6 from the other portions and along the front middle portion and further means for securing the rear middle portion to the base panel.

f HARRY SHERMAN.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 315,174 See Apr. 7, 1885 1,529,197 McKnight Mar. 10, 1925 1,919,942 Havel July 25, 1933 2,020,971 Silverstein Nov. 12, 1935 2,400,788 Temko et al Mar. 21, 1946 2,444,883 Temko et al. July 6, 1948 OTHER REFERENCES Federal Stock Catalogue of 1930, page 49, Seam LSy-3(A), 112/262Am. 

